Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-09
His Career.


His Career.
Henry Ward Beeeher was the eighth child Of
Lyman and Roxann Foole Beechcr, aud was
born 1T Iitchneld. Conn, June 81. 1873. His
father was well-known theological writer,
orator, and temperance and anti-slavery aglta-
tor, and was three times married. Henry
Ward Beecher was raised in great simplicity.
His mother died when he was three years old.
AT ten years Of age no entered n private school
az Bethlehem. taught by Rev. Dr. Lang
don, where, II Is said, he proved poor
scholar. but developed remarkable strength
OF opinion. The following year he was
transferred TO his sisters school for young Ia
dies al Hartford. At the age OF twelve, his
father having removed 20 Boston, young Beech
or entered the Boston Latin school Next we
hearof him pursuing classical studies az Mount
Pleasant. and in 1870 he entered the Freshman
class AT Amherst College,
During the last two ycers Of his college course
Henry taught district schools, preached aud
spoke regularly In religious meetings, lectnred
on temperance, and, a. the anti-slavery agita-
ton was last beginning, took his position bold
" as an abolitiOnist
In 1898 be graduated from Amherst, and be-
gan theological course under his father at
Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, and in 1896 aT-
poured FIRST publicly a. the champion % the
anti-slayery cause. Tho utterances OF tue
PhfdfifhTODist, an Gnii-slayery paper In GIN
clnnati, edited 10y James g.. Birncy, slave
holder who had emanGpaicd his slaves. be-
ment. \ riot broke odt, and for week Ctn-
clnnati was OyergUn by the pgo-siayery Gle
rncpt, headed by kentucky Shareholders
Young Becchcr asked 10 Do sworn In a.
one Of the special policemen, and.
armed With a pistol, p1trOled Tire streets
At this time, ip the absence Of Nr Brainard
ne was occupying the editorial chair in The
Office q the Gin ,inhat JOhrIdf, the organ OF
tic New school Presbyterian Church. IN lcjI
Mr. PCccher concluded h.a theological studies.
81 Uf.r.f Ia Nlffn kElierl
taxing tie hut offer made him, settled over
Presbyterian church "a I.awrencebuTc, onto.
il 1859 he was called 10 indianapolis, Tncre
he r, maiucd for eight years, and made HIM
self very prominent by Introducing into the
SyEcd a resolution declaring thGs every minis
ter should preach thorough exposition ald
condemnation 81 slavery.
In June. 1877, no was called 70 Plymouth
church. Brooklyn, where be remained as pastor
10 the time OF his death. Since tho beginning
Of his Brooklyn IastOrate he has seldom failed
20 make himself heard on any pablo question
that has aeitated the country.
Mr.. BeecLcr was man OF great inteuect. OF
remarkable perrOnrl magnetism, and Oi gro2t
industry. Few strangers visited Brooklyn
WitrOut going 10 hear him preach. and he had
leciurcd In nearly all the principal cities IN tho
country. 10 visited Richmond ON featuring
tours. lie was an ardent supporter OF Mr.. Lin
coin. and when tie civil war broke out raised
and equipped regiment for the Federal ger
vice.
soon after the close Of the wer Mr.. Beecher
made q visit 70 the south. In August. 1874, al
ter come years OF scandalOus reports. Theodore
Tilton brought his salt against hr. Beerher FOR
improi or relations with Mrs. Triton. The trial
was opened IN the City Courj OF Brooklyn on
January (. 1915, and continued IuHy f0ur
months. Judges Nelson, McCue, aud Reynolds
presided az the Trial. Mir. Boechers counsel
we're William NJ. Eyarts, Roger A. Pryor,
Thomas G.. Sherman, John X. Porter, and Ben
lamin +. Tracy. Fitted against them on the
side Of Mr.. Tilton we're William A. Beach, W.
a. Fullerton. aud Samuel ID. Morris. The Jury
was locked up for a week and could not agree.
They stood . 10 FOR acquitsal whom discharged.
just before the National Convention OF 1881
Mr. Beecher declared in Chicago the impOssi-
biiiiy OF his ever aiding, under any conceiva-
BILE circumstance, the Democratic party, but
IN The campaign that followed he ardently sup
ported, y pen and voice, the Democraic can
didaies.
lie ves power in local politics, and II /.
said with his church made and unmade mayors
on two occasions. contemporary. In descri1
ing his personal appearance. says:
Mr. beecher was OF medium height, with
| bread shoulders and heavy girth; 80 stout and
| fieshy, In fact. that he looked short In inches
lis head vas large, though not bullying or ir
regular his forehead was high and his fea
| lures were strong and full His color wa
hfgh, his cheeks and neck being always fun
| yeined and ruddy. His hair was gray, turning
| 70 white IN recent years, and hung IN loose
| iDffh uANh hn hia htt'h Nbst-tVtlGts htn io''
! was always smOoih-shaycn. his eyes were q
| a grayish-hlue, fun Ct fire and expression IL
his moments Of feeling, always humorous and
| inqdisitive.
lis salary as pastor Of Plymouth church had
been increased from time 10 Time unth II wa:
| $4,000 at the time of the Becchcr- Elton trial
| 1h0t year bis congregation voted him Si0J.On
| out Of which, o. course. he paid the expenses Of
| the suit After that he received $4,000 year
a. before.
Hlswritings and bis lecture tours also yielded
| him good deal Of money.
MR.. BREcHER BELIEF.
| The sermons ON evolution preached by Mr.
| neecher attracted the widest attention. TX
| Rev George Morrison, of Baltimore, no wrote
| "1he formulated doctrines. as / hold them
/ are. a personal Cod, creator. and ruler oyel
| all things; the human fsmily universally sin
| ful; the need and possibility and facts OF con
| version; The divine agency In such work
| Jesus Christ the manifestation OF God In hn
/ man conditions; His ofiice IN redemption su
/ preme. l do not believe In the Calvinisfii
i form OF stating the atonement DO not be
i noye IN the fall OF the human rae In Adam
| and, q course, do not hold that Chriss's wori
/ was 10 satisfy the law broken by Adam for nj
| his posterity. The race was not lost. but hsi
| teen ascending steadily from creation I en-
i In hearty accord with reyivais and reyiva
4 preaching. with the educating forces OF th'
| church. and IN sympathy with all mlnlsten
/ who IN their several ways seek 10 build up mel
| into tho image Of Jesus Christ. By whose faith
1 iulnehs. generosity, and love hopa % be saves
..s..44 ~ -.